JUST IN: Florida teens caught trying to rob same online seller twice

The lobby at the Boynton Beach Police Department is one of several designated places at police stations where people who use online marketplace apps to buy and sell items can go to complete their transactions safely. (Alexandra Seltzer/The Palm Beach Post)

Police arrested the boys Wednesday after arranging what they thought was a meeting to purchase a cellphone that was being sold through the website OfferUp. The Palm Beach Post is not identifying the teens because they have not been charged as adults.

According to police, a 28-year-old man told officers that a cellphone he was selling online was stolen during an exchange with a buyer. The alleged incident happened July 13 on the 1500 block of Southern Cross Circle in The Landings community near Congress Avenue and Woolbright Road. During the exchange, a person snatched the phone and ran away, the man told police.

The man said he was trying trying to sell another phone with a new online account when he contacted by someone who had shown interest in buying the phone. The man called police Monday and said he believed the person who contacted him was the same person involved in the previous robbery.

The suspect had the same voice and requested a meeting at the same time and location, the man told police. Detective arranged to meet the buyers in an unmarked vehicle.

When the teens arrived, police identified themselves and the teens ran, according to a police arrest report. The teens were captured after a lengthy pursuit and taken into custody.

Many police departments are encouraging online buyers and sellers to use their lobbies or parking lots to exchange goods.